Torn Paper Op Art

This is a fun, simple project that the fifth and sixth graders completed in one or two class periods.  I found this idea on Pinterest.  I was not able to locate the blog that had this project so if anyone knows of it's origin, please let me know!  I would like to give proper credit for this idea! Thanks!

The students take a 2"x3" piece of construction paper in the color of their choice and carefully tear it into three pieces.  Then they arrange the pieces on a sheet of drawing paper and glue them down.  The students then begin to draw a line around one of the pieces, following its shape.  When the line reaches where it began there are two choices.  One is to close the shape and start again to make a new line and continue this process.  The other choice is to continue the one line and spiral around.  The student may start tracing around the other pieces at any time.  When the line is about to collide with another shape the student can either stop and start again on the other side of the shape or go around both of the shapes.  This process is repeated until the paper is full.

Self-Portrait Collages

The fifth graders have been diligently working to complete these self-portraits.  They added color to them with tissue paper and Mod Podge.  We love Mod Podge in our art room!  This art project was a long one and I never thought I would see the end of the little tissue paper pieces all over the place day after day!  However, it was worth it!

Op Art Landscapes

This year the sixth graders have been learning about landscapes.  This design ties in with the landscape, yet brings a different twist: Op art!

Shades and Tints Landscapes

Sixth graders painted landscapes that have atmospheric perspective using three tints, pure color and a shade. I got this project idea from this blog: New Hope Art Gallery. Here are some of the results.

Art Show Selection

This week the 5th and 6th graders at Berry Intermediate are each choosing one piece of art work from their portfolios to be displayed in the district art show.  Our art show represents grades one through twelve and is held at our high school.  I really enjoy this part of getting ready for the art show because the students have been working so hard all year, their portfolios are full and they get to see the result of all of the hard work.  Some students have no trouble making a selection and quickly accomplish the task of filling out a name tag and turning in their piece.  Others ask for assistance of which I happily give by asking the student to lay out all of their projects, and one by one take away the projects they would not want to turn in.  This "whittling down" process makes it easy for them to choose the piece that will be turned in.  Below are  a few snap-shots of the last three days of art show selection.

 In the past I filled out the labels myself but this year I am having the students fill out their own labels and it saves me so much time.  I don't know why I didn't do this sooner!

The next couple of weeks will prove to be a marathon of art show preparation (mounting and labeling) all of the pieces that the students have chosen.  Luckily, I have the help of a few wonderful parent volunteers and my own two parents to help!  Parent volunteers rock!  And so do my Mom and Dad!

Student Learning Objectives (SLO's)

I wrote two Student Learning Objectives, one for 5th grade and one for 6th grade (those are the only two grades that I teach).  The 6th grade SLO was all about drawing a landscape that has depth.  Below are some of the lessons that I taught.  I would have liked to have more time with landscapes.  I had more planned but we were not able to get to it all.  One of these is a landscape painting using shades and tints to show atmospheric perspective.  I got the idea for the lesson here.   We weren't able to get finished with that one before assessments.  I blame all of that on snow days.  

If I write an SLO again about landscape drawing I am going to leave out one point perspective because I feel like that is a whole lesson in itself, aside from everything else I included.  

The 5th graders learned about drawing self-portraits.  We did a self-portrait collage by applying tissue paper with Mod Podge.  

The following are side-by-side pictures of pre-assessments and post assessments by the same students.

6th Grade Landscapes

5th Grade Self-Portraits

I hope this was of at least a little help to anyone who will be writing art SLO's next year.  If you have any questions, feel free to comment.